Plantar support

Abstract

 This plantar support (1) must be arranged in the shoe in place of a rigid orthopedic sole; it contains cavities (3,5,7,9) with flexible and elastic walls which contain a granular material allowing adjustment of the bearing surface of the foot; it also has the possibility of metering the material in each cavity.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a corrective prosthesis as a replacement for a rigid orthopedic sole, which presents numerous possibilities of adjustment in terms of both shape and thickness and possibilities of progressive correction, this being completely impossible with tradi­tional orthopedic soles which are rigid and the shape of which is almost incapable of adjustment.

[0002] This plantar support is more comfortable for walk­ing than rigid orthopedic soles.

[0003] It fits both normal shoes, where correction and prevention are concerned, and special shoes, especially shoes for athletes.

[0004] Being inserted like a sole between the shoe and the foot, it can be used both for comfort and for correc­tion wherever there is a static or dynamic imbalance. It has many functions, just like those of the fatty tissue which is under the sole of the human foot.

[0005] This plantar support which must be arranged in the shoe consists substantially of separate preformed cavities having flexible walls and filled with a formless material which allows adjustment of the bearing surface of the foot.

[0006] At least one of the walls of these cavities can be elastic and made of para-rubber or the like.

[0007] Although, in principle, a liquid can be used as the material for filling the cavities, it is preferable to use a granular material, preferably with spherical or equiva­lently shaped grains, the particular feature of which is that it matches the shape of the sole of the foot and thus has a stabilizing function, such as sand.

[0008] The walls of the cavities can be pierced by a needle suitable for filling them or emptying them, even partially.

[0009] The cavities can be included in a tubular sleeve made of leather, which forms the sole and which is applied to the shoe by means of fastening systems making it remov­able, such as, for example, "Velcro". A sole can be pro­duced in a single thickness or in two thicknesses which contribute to the formation of the cavities.

[0010] The invention will be understood better from the following description and drawing which illustrate a prac­tical example. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view according to I-I of Figure 3;

Figures 2 and 3 show cross-sections according to II-II and III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view according to IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment;

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a corrective plantar support, and

Figure 7 shows yet another alternative embodiment of a corrective plantar support.

[0011] According to a practical embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a tubular sole 1 has been produced from very fine leather or an equivalent material and includes the cavities 3, 5, 7, 9, the walls of which are made of elastic rubber and which are located (see the drawing) in the region of the heel, along the inner and outer arches and across the first metatarsus; the various cavities are filled independent of one another, there nevertheless be­ing the possibility of making them interdependent, with a spherical granular material of approximately 0.10/0.15 mm, up to the degree of filling which makes it possible to ob­tain the form recommended for the orthopedic correction required by the doctor. These cavities filled in this way perform a bearing function, and their intrinsic properties act on the foot without traumatizing it. They fit perfec­tly between the sole of the foot and the shoe both in the static position and in the dynamic position, because of the movability of the granular content and the elastic bending of the walls of the cavities.

[0012] The elasticity of the walls of the cavities and, more particularly, the sliding of the filling material consisting of spherical granules provide resilience and recovery after temporary deformation caused by the load at the moment of greatest tension, absorbing the knocks and thus stimulating the anatomical physiology of the sole of the human foot. In fact, under the sole of the foot, humans possess, in addition to the connective tissues, ligaments, derm and the like, as a support for the bone structure, adipose pads which, in addition to having cha­racteristics biotypical of age and state of nutrition, form a layer of extremely uniform subcutaneous panniculus adiposus retained by the elastic collagen fibers of the capsules at a certain tension, thus allowing them to exe­cute a limited movement, without coming out of their re­ceptacle. These adipose pads protect the plantar arch and the entire structure of the skeleton of the foot against shocks and allow walking without pain.

[0013] The plantar support according to this invention, by imitating this physiology, simulates the function of the pads; the rubber cavities filled with spherical granu­les can be compared with the cavities filled with fatty tissue, which transmit the stimulations to the plantar aponeurosis exciting and protecting the function, as can be seen in nature, thus preventing the irritations of the tissues surmounting them.

[0014] For filling the cavities, such as 3, 5, 7, 9, it is possible to use a syringe needle which is made to pene­trate through the elastic wall, thus introducing the granu­lar material in a quantity easily proportionable and variable as a result of the succession of injections. The elastic walls (made of para-rubber or the like) are, by their very nature, capable of reclosing the hole made by the needle. However, the possibility of using easily re­movable adhesives must also not be excluded.

[0015] A cavity, such as, for example, the cavity 3 of the heel, is subdivided into two parts: an inner part and an outer part for allowing a necessary correction of the rear of the foot. At all events, the movability of this material is less than that of a liquid. The granular material can consist, for example, of small spheres of polymethyl/methacrylate or of any other equivalent material. Alternatively, although not preferably, a viscous liquid can be used as the filling material.

[0016] The sole of Figure 1 can be fastened to the shoe by means of an adhesive (for example, Velcro) or incorpo­rated in it (particularly in sports shoes) during produc­tion, to allow individual correction, obtain the best muscular performance of the athlete at the time of the sporting endeavour, but also reduce his fatigue.

[0017] Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the cavities are formed by two lamellae (31 and 33) ar­ranged so as to define the cavities; one of the lamellae (31) forms the sole and the other can be continuous or zonal and thus form the cavities.

[0018] In Figure 6, the plantar support has seven cavi­ties intended for stimulating the propioceptive system of the sole of the foot. Plantar muscles, on which action is to be taken, correspond to each cavity. Thus, the cavity 10 acts on the short and long flexors of the big toe, the cavity 11 influences the adductor of the big toe and the levator of the 2nd and 3rd metatarsi, whilst the cavity 12 influences the opponens of the 5th toe. The cavity 13 acts on the flexors of the 5th toe. The cavity 14 influences the adductor of the big toe. The cavity 15 serves as a support and for correcting supination. Finally, the cavity 16 serves as a support for and for correcting pronation. This embodiment is intended more particularly for orthopedic correction, for example for the following indications: flat foot, hammer toe, hallux valgus, instability of the heel, pronation or supination of the heel, falling of the anterior arch, vertebral and paravertebral pains, secondary imbalance of the knee, sacroiliac pains.

[0019] The plantar support of Figure 7 has three cavities. A radial front cavity 17 serves as a retrocapital bar ba­lancing the support of the anterior arch and metatarsi. At the heel and in that part of the sole of the foot turned inwards, the cavity 18, 19 with its front part 18 stimu­lates the adductor of the big toe and with its rear part 19 supports and corrects pronation. Finally, the cavity 20 serves as a support for and for correcting supi­nation. This embodiment intended particularly for ortho­pedic correction is indicated, for example, for the fol­lowing: instability of the heel, pronation or supination of the heel, falling of the anterior arch, vertebral and paravertebral pains, secondary imbalance of the knee, sacroiliac pains.

[0020] The plantar support of this invention makes it pos­sible to carry out variable individual corrections, the form of which can be made suitable for orthopedic purpo­ses and for prevention and is capable of successive adjustments.

[0021] This support offers dynamic self-adjustment and a return to the inner pressure equilibrium, assisted by the elasticity of the cavities and by the inner movement of the spherical granules.

[0022] Access to the elastic cavities can be gained via valves which make it possible to fill them or empty them inter­dependently, in order to maintain or correct the sup­ports during use gradually and progressively in successive periods, correcting the faults of the muscular positions and/or of the skeleton in the appropriate proportion.

[0023] A sole like that described can also be transfer­red from one shoe to the other, because it allows the necessary adjustments for recovering the spaces and the pressure, maintaining a constant corrective effect.

[0024] The sole also fits heeled shoes, since the material used allows it to match the curves imposed on the foot by the shoes and correct the load changes attributable to the abnormal positions of the trochleoastragalic and metatar­sal joints.

[0025] This sole which makes accurate and adjustable cor­rections of anomalies makes it possible to reduce and pre­vent the pain caused by the defective positions of the spinal column and the sacroiliac joint caused by unrecog­nized walking faults.

[0026] The sole, whilst correcting walking in a sophisti­cated way, reduces the uneven wear of the shoes.

[0027] It is clear that the drawing gives only a practical example illustrating the invention which can vary in terms of its forms and the location of the cavities, without going beyond the limits of its concept.

Claims

1. Plantar support put in the shoe and intended for replacing a rigid orthopedic sole, characterized in that it possesses cavities having flexible walls and containing a formless material for adjustment of the bearing surface of the foot.

2. Plantar support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cavities have at least one elastically defor­mable wall made of para-rubber or the like.

3. Plantar support according to Claim 1 or 2, charac­terized in that the cavities are filled with a granular material consisting preferably of spherical grains or grains of equivalent shape.

4. Plantar support according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the walls of the cavities are pier­ceable by a needle which can fill them or empty them even gradually.

5. Plantar support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the walls are included in a tubular sleeve which forms a flexible sole and which can be applied to the shoe by means making it removable, such as Velcro or the like.

6. Plantar support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elastic cavities are included non-removably in the sole during the production of the shoe.

7. Plantar support according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sole produced from a lamella which contributes to forming the cavities together with another lamella, continuous or zonal, which, coupled to the first, forms the plantar support.

8. Use of the plantar support according to one of Claims 1 to 7 for making variable and self-adjustable in­dividual corrections for orthopedics or the prevention of deformations.

9. Orthopedic shoe, characterized in that it pos­sesses a plantar support according to one of Claims 1 to 8.

10. Shoe, especially sports shoe, characterized in that it possesses a plantar support according to one of Claims 1 to 8.

Drawing